Desert Hosts

Becoming a Desert Host is quite possibly one of the most thankless ways of life.

— unknown

Deep in the Great Desert, there is The Refuge. It is a place for those that are unwelcome in any other society: The Halfbreeds, half demon, half human. The only ones living of their own choosing in the Refuge are the Desert Hosts, those that have sworn their lives to protecting and caretaking of the Halfbreeds.
Hated by all other civilisations, both Halfbreeds and Desert Hosts find themselves shunned and hunted wherever they go unless they disguise their origin.
And if that were not enough, the Desert Hosts even have to live with dispair, loss, hatred and spite from within the camp. For the Halfbreeds, born of one part demon, are born with a crippled soul. In many cases, this manifests in greater susceptibility for diseases, a lessened will to live and a greater tendency to depression. Many Halfbreeds die at a young age, either from sickness or simply giving up, no longer seeing a point in life. This is not helped by the fact that many are left by their mothers soon after birth, the mothers fleeing the Refuge and returning to their homes in hope of being accpted again, once they rid themselves of the evil growing inside.

It is left to the Hosts to take care of the infants and small children, left alone in a cruel world. They offer their love and care, all hours of the days and nights. Many leave again after some months, finding themselves drained and hopeless themselves. Those few that remain for years are truly saints, finding hope, faith and love not only for themselves but to share with all around them.
Additionally to the emotional strain, the Hosts have to live with the physical strain as well. The desert is a cruel home at the best of times, with unbearably hot days and freezing nights. They are woken at all hours by the needs of their cares, be it feeding, holding or soothing. Food and water are always scarce and must often be carried for great distances. At times there are raids, leaving the camp in destruction and some Hosts and refugees injured or killed. Often, if the current location of the Refuge is discovered, raids will begin to increase in frequency, until the Refuge is forced to break camp and move to another location. This means carrying tents, food, water, the sick and injured through the baking sun on uncertain paths. Only the strongest and purest of heart can withstand these constant strains for long. Even most of the Halfbreeds - those that survive long enough - choose to leave the Camp, seeking to make a living in the Southlands, hiding their true identity.